A reading challenge

Today I attempted to film a video of myself committing to a challenge to read 50 pages a day for the rest of the year in an attempt to roughly read one book a week. Needless to say, I felt awkward and could not see how filming and sharing this video was going to resonate with me. So instead, here I am. Hello again, familiar words.

An old photo from Gerês, 2015. 

It's true. I'm committing to reading 50 pages a day for the rest of the year, starting August 1st, 2018. Since the start of the month, I've read a book, one book. I felt joyful. I doubt I will be able to read 50 pages a day for every day of the rest of the year - I will undoubtedly fail - but for what it's worth, I will try.

This is how I reached the conclusion to read 50 pages a day... It dawned on me that an average book has about 350 pages, some more, some less. The week has 7 days. I did some basic maths and divided the number of pages by the number of days in the week. 350/7=50 pages a day. Voila. It made it seem so much more manageable to read 50 pages a day than saying one book a week. It's about an hour of reading a day, easier by snapping those moments throughout the day that slowly but surely allow me to read all 50, but somehow not in one go. 

So, my commitment is bound my this post. Reading is to appreciate the present more, switch off from the world and slow down; reading is about making time, overcoming challenges, reminding myself that the world is greater beyond my own reality. 

Currently reading: The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman. 

I'm on GoodReads, should you wish to see me there. 

Much love,

Sofia 

Our trip to Ireland

Earlier this year, Matt and I went to Ireland. I think it was around April time. I never got around to looking at the photos or even contemplate writing or sharing anything permanent about the trip we took. Today it dawned on me how special it is to capture the little journeys we take and prolong them in whatever way is possible. So, this is what is possible to me right now. And I hope it makes me hold onto the memories just a little longer and cherish them in the way they ought to. 

Ireland was lovely. Rainy, but lovely. We began our trip in Dublin, where we spent two days exploring the city. We then rented a car to begin our journey. Our first stop: Greystones, south of Dublin. We stopped there first because I have a (un)healthy obsession with The Happy Pear, who inspire me to live a joyous, happy and more fulfilled life. Greystones is where they have their community, and a wonderful cafe & veg shop that I joyfully explored. After sadly not running into them - casually, you know - we drove onto Cork, where we essentially just hoped from cafe to cafe. Yes, there were attempts at writing and reading, but we mostly played card games. During the next 7 days, we travelled through rural areas and drove along the coast. It was beautiful, peaceful and just what we needed to switch of from the business of the city, especially London. Smelling fresh air, getting lost, dipping our feet into the ocean, sleeping in. It was rather wonderful and invigorating. 

I leave here some photographs - only a few I took as it has been two years since the last time I had photographed. 

Much love, 

Sofia